in^  '*^vv> 


N^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


IAS  121    I 

130     *^™       III 

^  m 


2.5 


2.2 


if    1^ 


2.0 


1.8 


1.25   ||.4 

1^ 

^ 

6"     - 

► 

Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  VSCST  MAIN  STREFT 

WEBST5f,NV    J 4.5*0 
(716)  e7;.4>s(3 


^ 


«!• 


s:<? 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  iVIicroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductlons  historlques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checlted  below. 


□ 


D 


n 


a 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pelliculie 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  blaclt)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


r~n    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relid  avec  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serr6e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int6rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout6es 
tors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  fiimies. 


L'Institut  a  microfiimd  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  pauvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite.  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mithode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restauries  et/ou  pellicul^es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe< 
Pages  ddcolordes.  tachet^es  ou  piquees 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachies 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  indgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materit 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


|~~|  Pages  damaged/ 

I      I  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

I    T  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I  Pages  detached/ 

I      I  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      j  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

n~|  Only  edition  available/ 


n 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refiimed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuiliet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  fiim6es  A  nouveau  de  facon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentaires; 


Pagination  as  follows  :    [2]- 67,  [1].  4  p. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  iWmi  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

J 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Th«  copy  filmad  h«ra  has  b—n  raproducod  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Univeriity  of  British  Columbia  Library 


L'axamplaira  film*  fut  raproduit  grAca  A  la 
ginArosIt*  da: 

University  of  British  Columbia  Liorary 


Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
posffiif>'4  considaring  tha  condition  and  laglbility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
fiim:ing  contract  spacifications. 


Las  imagas  suivantas  ont  M4  raproduita^  avac  la 
plus  grand  soln,  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
d^  la  nattatt  da  l'axamplaira  film*,  at  an 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  ccntrat  da 
filmaga. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion,  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copias  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
slon,  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illustratad  imprassion. 


Las  axa  nplairas  originaux  dont  la  couvartura  an 
papiar  «st  imprimta  sont  filmte  an  commandant 
par  la  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarminant  soit  par  la 
darnlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'imprassion  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  sacond 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  las  autras  axamplairas 
originaux  sont  filmAs  an  commandant  par  la 
pramidra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'imprassion  ou  d'illustration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  darniAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  talla 
ampreinta. 


Tha  last  racordad  frama  on  aach  microficha 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  ^»>  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  V  (moaning  "END"), 
whichavar  applias. 


Un  das  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
darniAre  image  da  chaque  microfiche,  salon  la 
cas:  la  symbole  — ►  signifia  "A  SUIVRE '.  la 
symbols  y  sigiiifia  "FIN". 


Maps,  platas,  charts,  ate,  may  ba  filmad  at 
diffarant  raduction  ratios.  Thosa  too  larga  to  ba 
antiraly  included  in  ona  axposura  ara  filmad 
baginning  in  tha  uppar  laft  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartas,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmts  A  des  taux  da  rMuction  diffirants. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  fttre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  film*  d  partir 
da  Tangle  supirieur  gauche,  de  gaucho  *  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombrb^ 
d'imagas  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
iilustrant  la  mdthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

'><^' 


:>s;^ 


'\ 


'f!  A. JfT) 


'^M 


i.f.},-^,f^kivi' 


4 


^^^: 


i 


'^. 


•f^ 


1 


%■■ 


3CS3S 


ssmmmmmm 


5S-r 


CONVERSATIONS 


i- 


ON 


CANADA. 


.    •'it 


■■m 


■  J", 


.^i:i 


.■■::*,_ 


i^.  • 


WRITTEN  FOR   THE   MASSACHUSETTS   SABBATH   SCHOOL    j 
SOCIETY,    ANP    REVISED   BY   THE    COM- 
MITTEE   OF    PUBLICATION.  '-       >* 


;^^-' 


'^t/ 


M 


isil 


i 


BOSTON: 

MASSACHUSETTS    SABBATH    SCHOOL    SOCIETY. 
Depository,  No.  13  Cornhill. 

1838.  > 


■  .<:. 


#■■ 


.<* 


^1  .     «ii'ii^mfi^m^^wmmm'mimmi'mmfi^^ggtmm''^li^>'mK'mm 


m 


EftCered,  accor^g  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1838,  bj 

CflRfSTOPHER     C.     DEAN, 
in  Hie  Clerk's  Ofi^cA  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


#' 


::Jii^  ■■ 


^ 


«4 


i 


'^m'\ 


#r-        ■  :f 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


\ 


The  following  pages  have  been  prepared 
with  a  design  to  communicate  to  the  minds 
of  youth  some  important  information  re- 
specting the  Province  of  Lower  Canada. 
This  country  is  scarcely  excelled  in  beauty 
and  grandeur  of  scenery.  In  richness  and 
fertility  of  soil  it  is  not  surpassed  by  any  in 
the  same  latitude.  Commercially  it  is  of 
great  importance ;  but  morally  dark  and 
threatening. 

It  has  been  the  object  of  the  writer  to 
embody  information  valuable  for  all,  though 
addressed  particularly  to  children.  Most 
of  the  facts  were  taken  by  a  recent  traveler 
and  temporary  resident  in  the  Province,  but 
the  "  Tour  of  Silliman"  and  the  reports  of 
the  "  Canada  Home  Miss,  and  Education 
Societies,"  have  been  assistants  m  comple- 
ting the  work. 


1# 


t\ 


*  ' 


-ff  T 


■''^) 


r'li---'" 


{' 


I   ;      .""i 


ir^ 


"■' '    ^■ 


-^t 


# 


'^^ 

^ 


,ife-, 


^ 


I 


] 


CANADA. 


PART  I. 


As  the  hour  drew  near  for  the  arrival  of 
the  daily  stage  coach  in  the  village  of  B. — 
there  was  no  little  excitement  in  one  of  its 
retired  families.  An  interesting  group  of 
children  were  gathered  around  the  win- 
dows, that  overlooked  the  turnpike,  while  the 
wife  and  mother  though  more  silent,  mani- 
fested in  her  countenance  deeper  anxiety. 
In  a  few  moments  the  rattling  wheels  and 
prancing  horses  were  in  full  view,  and  as 
they  turned  towards  the  house  "Papa  is 


ii'..x. 


'{S*,.^  >■!'.>; 


.-*&. 


/ 


8 


CONVERSATIONS 


■^,. 


■M 


coming,  papa  is  coming,"  was  heard  from 
every  mouth  until  it  was  exchanged  for 
*'  He's  come,  he's  come."  Almost  all,  who 
know  by  experience  the  pain  of  separation 
from  friends,  know  also  the  joy  of  welcom- 
ing their  return ;  but  this  joy  was  height^ 
ened  on  the  present  occasion  by  an  unex- 
pected delay  of  several  days.  The  scene 
that  followed  the  unloading  of  the  stage, 
was  too  sacred  for  even  the  pen  of  affection 
to  portray.  Suffice  it  to  say,  the  supper 
soon  passed  away,  and  after  a  few  inquiries 
into  their  domestic  concerns,  iha  father 
listened  to  their  requests  for  a  description 
of  his  tour. 

"Papa,"  said  little  Henry, ''I never  knew 
any  thing  about  Canada,  and  mama  said 
you  would  tell  us  all  about  it  when  you 
came  home." 
'  Father.  I  feel  too  much  fatigued  to  give 
you  a  full  account  of  my  tour  this  evening, 
but  if  you  will  bring  me  my  map,  and  seat 
yourselves  around  the  table,  I  will  mention 
some  general  things.     You  perceive  by 


4 


f-'^ 


'ts;^;^ 


'-^\ 


■:'* 


-.■.'■j-V-J-v 


J 


I 


¥"'l^ 


* 


ON      CANADA. 


9 


looking  upon  this,  that  the  Lower  Province 
where  I  spent  my  time,  hes  directly  north 
of  the  States  of  Maine,  New  Hampshire, 
Vermont  and  a  part  of  New  York.  The 
Upper  Province  bounds  it  on  the  west ;  the 
Atlantic  Ocean  on  the  east;  but  its  north- 
ern boundary  is  undefined.  It  is  divided, 
as  you  will  see,  into  four  districts.  District 
of  Montreal — of  Three  Rivers — of  Quebec 
— of  Gaspe.  These  you  will  perceive  '^re 
general  divisions.  The  land  upon  the  riv- 
ers, is  divided  into  Seigniories,  which  are 
occupied  principally  by  the  French  Catho- 
lics. The  remaining  portions  under  im- 
provement, are  divided  into  townships  and 
inhabited  generally  by  Protestants. 

Eliza,    Are   these  Protestants  French 
also  1 

Father.  No.  They  are  English,  Scotch, 
Irish  and  Americans.  The  eastern  town- 
ships, of  which  I  shall  tell  you  more  at 
another  time,  occupy  that  portion  of  the 
province  which  lies  between  the  states  of  J 
Vermont,  New  Hampshire,  and  the  river 


^: 


/  1 


t 


jf  . 


II 


10 


•  CONVERSATIONS 


Chandierc  on  the  East,  and  the  French  set- 
tlements on  the  North. 

Charles.  Tlien  you  was  near  Canada, 
Papa,  when  you  wrote  us  from  Burhnglon, 
Vt. 

Father.  Yes,  and  as  I  sent  you  my 
journal  up  to  that  time,  I  shall  say  nothing 
of  the  places  and  scenes  dcscrihed  there, 
but  commence  with  my  entrance  into  Can- 
ada. I  took  a  steam-boat  from  that  place 
toward  evening  on  a  delightful  day  in  June, 
and  the  next  morning  the  town  of  St.  Johns 
was  in  full  view.  You  cannot  imagine  the 
variety  of  feeling,  which  agitated  my  mind 
at  this  sudden  change.  I  laid  me  down  to 
sleep  the  night  before  with  a  vivid  impres- 
sion of  the  beauty  of  the  scenery  around 
me,  and  its  similarity  to  the  region  of  my 
nativity,  I  awoke  a  stranger  in  a  strange 
land ;  beautiful  indeed,  but  new.  Every 
thing  around  me  said  I  had  left  my  own 
for  a  foreign  country. 

Mrs.  M.  I  do  not  understand  what 
could  strike  you  as  so  strange  before  land- 
ing. ^ 


^r 


•■■» 


!^.1 


'X>^ '  1 


s 


J-X', 


(t 


^v^^ 


ON      CANADA. 


11 


Father.  The  houses  are  not  in  our  style 
of  building.  Tiic  men  tliat  crowded  the 
wharves  were  not  only  dilFerently  formed 
and  different  hi  stature  from  our  country- 
men ;  but  they  were  differently  dressed  and 
spoke  a  different  language.  The  flag  that 
waved  from  the  mast  was  not  the  star- 
spangled  banner  of  America.  The  officers 
that  patrolled  the  streets  were  clad  in  king- 
ly uniform.  ,».  ; 

Mary.  Is  St.  Johns  inhabited  by  English 
or  French  7 

Father,  Generally  French,  though  there 
are  many  English  residents.  You  will  re- 
collect Canada  is  under  the  English  Gov- 
ernment ;  so  that  the  public  officers  are  in 
British  uniform.  They  obtained  this  coun- 
try by  conquest  from  the  French  about 
1760.  The  British  have  a  few  troops 
stationed  here,  but  the  ancient  fort  is  in 
ruins.  The  cemetery  of  the  Garrison  is 
still  visible.  The  monuments  are  boards 
painted  black;  the  inscriptions  are  painted 
on  them  in  white  letters.        v-    r  . 


- .:  ^^ . 


-'}•• 


< . 


-!* 


\ 


1 


12 


CONVERSATIONS 


Mrs.  M.  You  wrote  of  spending  the 
Sabbath  there.  In  what  manner  was  it  ob- 
served by  the  inhabitants  I 

Father,  Their  outward  observance  of 
it  was  very  commendable,  and  perhaps 
equal  to  places  of  its  size  in  the  U.  S. 

Eliza,  Did  you  go  from  that  place  to 
Montreal  by  land  or  water  7 

Father.  By  land  as  far  as  La  Prairie, 
a  delightful  village  eighteen  miles  from  St. 
Johns. 

Charles.  You  spoke  of  the  buildings : 
in  what  respects  do  they  differ  from  ours  ? 

Father.  The  farm-houses  and  many  in 
the  villages  are  what  are  called  block  houses. 
They  are  but  one  story  and  built  of  logs. 

Catharine.  Do  they  look  any  like  the 
log  houses  we  saw  in  the  State  of  New 
York  ? 

Father.  Not  at  all.  The  logs  are  iirst 
hewn  square,  and  then  split  in  two,  which 
makes  them  like  plank,  say  from  four  to 
six  inches  in  thickness.  They  are  then 
fitted  together,  and  if  there  are  any  crevi'- 


■  4-"' 


liiiiiitncjiii 


yr 


^:^Wlv. 


^im1\i^i^'  tuir 


-'g.'jsey'y 


■/ 


OVi      fJAlfjADi. 


13 


.f 


Ces  they  are  filled  ^ith  mortar  arid  whtte- 
^ashed  within  and  without,  roof  and  all, 
which  gives  them  a  very  fine  appearancef. 
The  winddXvs  generally  irt  the  French 
houses,  are  divided  up  and  down  iti  thcf 
middle  and  swing  on  hinges  like  dooW. 
They  are  well  fitted  for  the  climate,  bein'g 
Warm  and  comfortable.  Many  who  are 
able  have  double  windows. 

Henry.  Those  we  saw  had  but  one  room 
in  them. 

Father.  Many  of  these  have  not,  and  if 
other  rooms  are  needed,  another  building 
is  attached  and  then  another  and  ahoihtf 
a^  they  ma:y  wish. 

Mary.  Do  the  people  iri  Canscda,  gene- 
rally, appear  like  those  Canadian'  French- 
men \1re  saw  on  our  tour  of  the  Lakes  7      v^ 

Father.  Far  from  it.  Their  manners 
are  very  courteous,  and  they  are  so  polite 
and  attentive  to  your  wants  that  you  feel 
at  home  with  rhem  immediately.  Theif  * 
treatment  of  yoli wherever  you  m^ftttheiA^  * 
forms  a  striking  but  pleasing  eofltpaist  to-' 
2 


.^j.- 


^f 


•■•>V' 


. .  4 


r 


14 


CONVERSATIONS 


the  selfish  indifference  that  is  manifested 
towards  strangers  in  some  places  where 
you  travel. 

Catharine,  Do  they  dress  any  like  those 
we  saw  ? 

Father,  I  believe  the  dress  of  the  peas- 
antry is  the  same  every  where.  The  men 
wear  a  sash  around  their  waist  and  a  long 
conical  woollen  cap  on  their  heads,  or  fall- 
ing back  upon  their  shoulders. 

Charles,  Is  the  country  level  from  St. 
Johns  to  La  Prairie  7 

Father,  Yes,  but  the  land  is  poor  a  part 
of  the  way. 

Mrs.  M,  Are  there  regular  stage-routes 
from  St.  Johns  to  Montreal  7 

Father,  Yes ;  but  we  went  in  a  Cana- 
dian Calash. 

Mary,     What  is  that,  Papa  7 

Father,  A  carriage  made  something  like 
an  old  fashioned  chaise,  very  stout  and  gen- 
erally without  a  top. 

Catharine.  How  many  can  ride  in  them  7 

Father,    Two  grown  persons  beside  a 


' 


•'^v 


';'>v. 


ON      CANADA. 


li 


driver.  The  horse  is  farther  from  the  body 
of  the  carriage  than  in  our  vehicles,  and 
thus  leaves  room  for  a  driver's  seat  in  front. 

Eliza.  How  far  is  Montreal  from  La 
Prairie  7 

Father.  Only  nine  miles,  on  the  other 
side  of  the  river. 

Mrs.  M.  You  surprise  me.  You  can- 
not mean  that  the  St.  Lawrence  river  is 
nine  miles  wide? 

Father,  It  is  crossed  in  this  place  in  an 
oblique  direction.  Its  average  width  is 
stated  to  be  two  miles. 

Charles.  I  have  heard  much  of  this 
river.  Papa,  will  you  describe  it  7 

Father.  I  wish  I  could.  It  is  certainly 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  rivers  I  ever  be- 
held, and  the  movement  of  its  waters  make 
it  majestic.  Conceive,  if  you  can,  of  an 
immense  body  of  deep  placid  water ;  its 
banks  sometimes  compressing  it  into  half 
a  mile  even,  and  then  expanding  into  lakes 
of  some  miles  in  breadth.  Then  reflect 
that  it  holds  on  the  even  tenor  of  its  way, 


16 


CONVERSATION$ 


- 


hi 


except  when  broken  by  rocks  and  islands, 
for  nearly  seven  hundred  miles,  receiving 
jas  it  passes,  the  mighty  waters  of  the  Ot- 
Itawa  and  many  smaller  streams  until  it 
empties  itself  ii^to  one  of  the  great  thorough- 
fares of  nations,— the  4^tlantiG  Ocean. 

Henri/.  I  did  not  know  thgit  the  Ottawa 
was  a  very  large  river.  Papa. 

Fathfir,  It  would  not  suffer  much  ir> 
/Comparison  with  our  own  jioble  Missouri, 
either  for  length  or  size. 

Catharine.    Is  the  St.   Lawrence   700 

pniles  long? 

Father,     This  is  its  length  from  Lake 

Ontario ;  but  it  is  considered  by  the  inha^ 
bitants  to  be  the  sarne  which  appears  in 
4ifferent  places  between  the  lakes  of  North 
America.  It  is  indeed  the  same  water, 
ithough  co^lled  by  different  names,  and  con- 
sidered in  this  light,  taking  the  entire  range 
from  Lake  Superior,  it  would  be  njore  than 
2,000  miles  long ;  and  is  perhaps  in  volume 
of  water,  greater  thai>  any  other  river  in 
^Qfi\^  America- 


I 


\y 


K  \ 


ON      CANADA. 


17 


Eliza,     How  far  is  this  river  navigable? 

Father.  Montreal  is  considered  at  the 
head  of  navigation,  though  boats  of  various 
descriptions  go  through  to  the  Lakes,  by 
means  of  canals. 

Mary.  Do  large  vessels  navigate  this 
river? 

Father,  I  saw  many  of  between  two  and 
three  hundred  tons  burden,  and  was  told 
that  ships  of  six  hundred  tons  could  ascend 
the  river.  Vast  numbers  are  employed  in 
procuring  lumber,  which  is  taken  down 
the  water  by  rafts  and  secured  in  bays. 
It  would  have  delighted  me,  Henry,  to  have 
shown  you  one  of  these  rafts.  Many  of 
them  contain  timber  to  the  value  of  several 
thousand  dollars,  and  on  them  are  erected 
with  bark,  wigwams  or  huts  for  the  conve- 
nience of  those  who  navigate  the  rafts. 

Henry,  How  many  men  does  it  need  to 
take  care  of  them? 

i  ather.  Some  of  the  large  ones  require 
from  fifteen  to  twenty-five,  and  in  spite  of 
all  their  efforts  the  wind  frequently  sepa^ 


2# 


^y- 


mmmmmmmi^ 


18 


CONVCRSA  T^ONS 


f 


^ 


ratiBs  the  raft,  and  large  amounts  of  pro- 
perty are  destroyed  in  this  way. 

Charles,  Was  the  St.  Lawrence  River 
named  for  the  man  who  discovered  it,  like 
the  Hudson '} 

FatheTr  No.  Jaques  Cartier,  who  se- 
lected the  site  for  Montreal,  entered  this 
river  on  St.  Lawrence  day,  as  it  is  called, 
^nd  this  is  said  to  be  the  origin  of  the  name. 

IVlrs.  M.  Has  this  river  a  strong  cur- 
rent? 

Father.  It  is  said  to  be  generally  about 
three  miles  an  hour,  though  in  some  places 
probably  double  that  force. 

Mary.  Is  there  any  thing  particularly 
noticeable  about  its  lakes  ? 

Father.  No.  They  are  simply  widen- 
ipgs  of  the  river,  but  are  "  sprinkled  with 
islands,"  which  serve  to  give  quite  a  vari- 
pjty  to  the  scenery. 

Catharine.  How  many  inlands  are  there 
in  the  river  7 

Father.  It  is  said  the  whole  number 
bjBtwefsn  Lake  Ontario  ai^d  the  Gulf  of  St. 


i 


•  » 


f  9 


.* 


\ll 


ON      CANADA. 


19 


pro- 


there 


Lawrence,  exceeds  three  hundred.  I  had 
heard  much  of  the  beauty  of  these  Islands, 
but  they  cannot  be  conceived  by  one,  who 
has  not  seen  them.  Some  of  the  most  im- 
portant of  them  I  may  attempt  to  describe 
hereafter. 

Mrs.  M.    Is  the  soil  good  on  the  river  7 
Father.      Excellent.      It  was  formerly 
said  that  "  the  farmers  were  afraid  of  rais- 
ing too  much   lest   the  price  for  produce 
should  fall,"  and  I  was  told  that  now  many 
cannot  dispose  of  their  stable  manure  even 
as  a  gift,  and  that  it  is  frequently  carried 
to  the  river  and  left  in  heaps  on  the  ice  to 
float  away  when  it  breaks  up  in  the  Spring. 
If  this  is  a  fact,  it  is  probably  owing  more 
to  a  want  of  knowledge  of  its  value  than  a 
fear  of  increasing  the  productiveness  of  the 
land.     Without  this  the  farms  are  in  a  good 
state  of  improvement,  and  with  their  white- 
Avashed  cottages  and  tin-roofed  churches 
and  spires,  arrest  the  traveler's  attention, 
though  there  is  but  little  variety  in  the 
views. 


<••     V 


% 


\ 


«. 


20 


CONVERSATIONS 


Charles,  Are  the  villages*  much  higher 
than  the  river  or  nearly  on  a  level  ? 

Father,  I  had  forgotten  to  mention  a 
peculiarity  of  this  river.  The  banks  are 
almost  level  with  the  water,  so  that  when 
you  sail  along  you  seem  almost  to  be  walk- 
ing their  streets,  and  sometimes  I  could 
scarcely  convince  myself  that  the  water 
was  not  higher  than  the  banks.  Indeed  I 
can  express  it  no  better  than  to  say ;  "  it  is 
a  deep  uneven  channel  filled  to  overflow- 
ing." 

Mary,    Does  it  overflow  its  banks,  Papa? 

'^'  Father.     Not  to  any  extent. 

*  Catharine,    Are  there  settlements  all  the 

way  upon  the  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence  7 

M^Father,     As  far  as  I  went,  and  I  am  told 

quite  as  many  for  about  a  hundred  miles 

below  Quebec. 

Eliza,  What  is  the  appearance  of  these 
settlements,  compact  or  scattered  7 

Father,  There  are  numerous  villages 
built  for  the  most  part  around  a  handsome 
stone  church;  ''while  single  houses  and 


/.-^f 


t 


-i^: 


ON      CANADA. 


21 


. 


farms  at  agreeable  distances  appear  to  keep 
jup  a  regular  train  of  communication." 

Eliza.  Are  the  houses  built  of  logs  as 
you  have  described  7 

Father,  Most  of  the  cottages  are,  and 
''  covered  with  a  white-wash  composed  of 
salt  and  lime,  which  gives  them  quite  a 
brilliant  appearance.'*  The  residence  of  the 
Seigneurs  and  other  country  gentlemen  are 
built  of  stone,  large  and  handsome  and  the 
roofs  covered  with  tin.  The  churches, 
which  you  will  pass  as  often  as  once  in  six 
or  eight  miles  have  from  one  spire  to  three, 
which  with  the  roofs  are  also  covered  with  tin. 

Mrs.  M.  Will  you  explain  what  you 
mean  by  Seigniories,  for  I  do  not  perfectly 
understand  them. 

Father.  They  are  portions  of  land  skirt- 
ing all  the  great  rivers  in  the  Province, 
which  were  given  by  the  French  to  those, 
who  were  relatives  or  favorites  of  the  Gov- 
ernment, or  to  those,  who  had  performed 
some  service  for  their  country.  They  vary 
in  si^e  according  to  the  value  of  the  land, 


*' 


I 


-M' 


22 


CONVERSATIONS 


or  as  the  nature  of  the  services  required. 
This  land  is  divided  by  the  Seigneur,  i.e. 
the  one  who  posesses  it,  into  small  lots  or 
farms  and  rented  by  him  to  tenants  at  a 
very  low  price. 

Mary.     Can  he  sell  the  land  7 

Father.  Not  as  we  sell  land;  for  if  it 
passes  from  the  hand  of  the  owner  except 
by  heredetary  descent,  he  must  pay  to  the 
government  one  fifth  or  one  eighth  of  the 
purchase  money. 

Eliza.  What  then  are  the  advantages 
of  a  Seigneur  7 

Father.  They  are  many,  and  the  Sig- 
neurs  are  generally  wealthy.  The  tenants 
in  the  first  place  pay  but  a  trifling  sum  for 
the  rent  of  a  farm,  say  from  2s.  6d.  to  5s. 
To  this  rent  is  added  a  pair  of  fowls,  a 
goose,  a  duck,  a  bushel  of  grain,  or  some- 
thing of  the  kind,  and  when  you  recollect 
that  some  of  them  have  hundreds  of  ten- 
ants, you  will  readily  perceive  that  this 
alone  is  something  of  an  income.  Besides 
the  tenants  must  make  the  roads  and  have 


--f.^'i^^.j- 


'imiid^,. 


ON      CANADA. 


23 


uired. 
iir,  i.e. 
ots  or 
s  at  a 


ir  if  it 
except 
to  the 
of  the 

ntages 

e  Sig- 
enants 
im  for 
to  5s. 
wis,  a 
some- 
icollect 
Df  ten- 
at  this 
besides 
i  have 


•. 


their  grinding  done  at  the  mill  of  the  Sig- 
neur,  who  takes  1-16  of  the  whole.  The 
old  French  laws  constituted  the  Signeurs  a 
court  of  judges  of  all  crimes  committed  by 
their  tenants  except  murder  and  treason. 

Mrs,  M,  But  do  they  retain  their  laws 
and  property  as  before  they  were  conquer- 
ed? 

Father.  The  criminal  code  of  Great  Bri- 
tain was  introduced,  otherwise  their  laws 
remained  the  same  except  occasional  modi- 
fications as  in  our  government. 

Catharine.  Has  Canada  a  governor  like 
the  States  7 

Father.  Yes,  but  appointed  by  the  King 
of  England. 

Charles.     How  are  the  laws  formed  ? 

Father.  The  two  houses  of  Parliament 
propose  laws  for  the  approval  or  disappro- 
val of  the  King. 

Mrs.  M.  How  are  the  expenses  of  the 
government  paid  7 

Father.  There  is  a  revenue  created  by 
duties  upon  some  articles  of  produce,  cStc. 

^^ 


:^ 


24 


C  O  N  V  E  K  .S  A  T  I  0  N  S 


ill! 


!  F 


which  has  enabled  the  provinces  for  some 
years  nearly  to  support  themselves,  though 
they  have  ever  been  a  bill  of  expense  to 
Great  Britain. 

Eliza.  I  should  think  they  were  ungrate- 
ful to  rebel  against  the  government  when 
so  much  has  been  done  for  them. 

Father.  Theydo  not  complain  thatmany 
of  the  acts  of  government  are  oppressive  ; 
it  is  the  spirit  manifested  towards  them  as- 
a  conquered  people  that  produces  uneasi- 
ness. Besides,  they  are  not  appointed  to 
offices  of  state,  and  have  not  the  same  op^ 
portunity  for  promotion  as  the  English  in- 
habitants, consequently  their  laws  are  made 
for  them  without  their  cooperation  or  con- 
sent. 

Mrs.  M.   But  are  none  of  the  branches  of 
government  elective  1 

Father.    But  one,  and  that  is  the  house 
of  Assembly. 

Charles.    I  do  not  see,  then,  why  they 
were  to  blame  in  the  late  rebellion. 

Father.    The  manner  in   which    they  ^' 


:l':/V  -■ 


ON      CANADA. 


25 


sought  redress,  my  son,  should  be  condemn- 
ed by  all.  They  should  have  continued  to 
petition  the  mother  country  ;  not  taken  up 
arms  against  her. 

Mary.  What  is  the  religion  of  these 
Seigniories  ? 

Father.  Roman  Catholic ;  and  as  you 
pass  these  villages  you  will  frequently  see 
a  cross  in  some  conspicuous  place,  some- 
times made  of  stone,  but  more  commonly 
''  of  wood  surmounted  with  a  crown  of 
thorns." 

Eliza.  How  is  their  religion  supported  7 

Father.  By  the  income  of  land,  the  rent 
of  which  is  devoted  to  advancing  the  Cath- 
olic religion ;  by  the  payment  of  one  26th 
part  of  all  the  land  produces  to  the  Curates, 
and  by  direct  taxation  for  the  building  of 
churches,  parsonages  and  other  religious 
purposes. 

Mrs.  M.  I  should  like  to  understand  how 
the  Catholic  Priests  get  and  retain  such  an 
ascendency  over  the  minds  of  their  adhe- 


3 


•>'.. 


.i    'V 


♦ 


'•♦i.^. 


'f  Vv.,***!" 


^^  I 


1  '■/ 


^ .  -!£.  JJi  .mjm  I  «« 


.9 


26 


CdNVERSATiaNS 


rents  as  to  enable  them  to  exact  money,  6cCj 
whenever  they  please. 

Father.  It  is  all  done  by  management, 
and  taking  advantage  of  their  superstition. 
The  Catholics  in  Canada  are  under  the  im- 
mediate direction  of  a  Bishop,  who  passes 
through  th3  country  once  in  seven  years 
with  great  pomp  and  display  :  multitudes 
go  before  him,  cut  down  branches  of  the 
trees  and  spread  them  in  the  way.  "  As  he 
passes  their  streets  with  his  Coadjuter  Bi- 
shop and  nine  vicars  general  on  the  right 
hand  and  on  the  left,  with  four  behind  him 
to  hold  from  the  ground  the  trail  of  his 
gaudy  mantle  embroidered  within  and 
Without  with  fine  wrought  gold,  the  bewil- 
dered inhabitants  fall  upon  theit  knees  and 
worship."  These  together  with  their  300' 
Curates-  and  Missionaries;  iheir  Colleges,-. 
Seminaries  and  Convents,  form  the  appa- 
ratus by  which  they  accomplish  their  de- 
signs. 

Charles,  Is  this  the  only  religion  of 
Canada  ? 


'■; 


ON      CANADA. 


27 


of 


1, 


Father,  No.  The  Protestant  religion 
under  different  denominations,  prevails  to 
some  extent ;  though  nearly  four  fifths  of 
the  lower  province  are  Catholics. 

Mary.  Are  the  Protestants  supplied 
with  preaching  7 

FatJier,  The  Church  of  England,  which 
is  here  established  by  law,  have  a  few  cler* 
^ymen  sustained  with  high  salaries,  paid 
in  part  by  the  government  and  part  by  a 
society  in  England,  to  propagate  the  gospel 
in  foreign  parts. 

Mrs.  M.  You  said  there  were  various 
denominations ;  do  those  who  do  not  belong 
to  the  Established  Church  enjoy  the  means 
of  grace  7 

Father.  To  a  very  limited  extent.  The 
Wesleyans  once  attempted  to  occupy  the*^ 
ground,  but  in  most  cases,  have  withdrawn 
their  ministers.  Some  of  the  chvrches  in 
the  Unit'^d  StaleS;  in  connexion  with  the 
Canada  Missionary  Society,  have  recently 
made  some  efforts  to  supply  the  Eastern 
Townships  with  the  ordinances  of  the  gos^ 
ppl. 


,.  . 


y 


'-M. 


t*.- 


y 


1" 

7 


«i«l 


I 
i       ^ 


! 


28 


CONVERSATIONS 


Eliza.  By  whom  is  the  Canada  Mission- 
ary Society  sustained  7 

Father.  By  the  benevolent  in  all  places, 
but  esj3ecially  by  the  Presbyterians  and 
Congregationalists  in  Montreal.  The  ladies 
in  Montreal  have  made  very  laudable  ex- 
ertions in  this  cause ;  perhaps  ihey  have 
not  been  surpassed  by  any  in  the  States. 

Mary.  Is  this  the  same  society  which  has 
recently  become  auxiliary  to  the  American 
Home  Missionary  Society '? 

Father.  Yes.  And  this  has  made  the 
prospects  of  Canada,  in  a  moral  point  of 
view,  much  more  flattering  than  they  have 
heretofore  been.  They  now  come  into  the 
sphere  of  our  missionary  operations. 

Cathainne.  How  many  Protestants 
should  you  suppose  there  were  in  these 
Townships  7 

Father.    More  "han  50,000. 

Henry.  Why,  Papa.  I  did  not  suppose 
there  were  so  many  people  in  all  Canada. 

Father.  When  the  last  census  was  ta- 
ken there  were  between  5  and  600,000  iu 
Lower  Canada  alone. 


ON      CANADA. 


29 


J 


Mrs,  M,  Did  you  intend  to  have  us  un- 
derstand that  these  50,000  Protestants  have 
all  been,  until  now,  destitute  of  religious 
privileges  7 

Father,  Many  of  them  have  been  entirely 
destitute.  They  have  never  even  seen  a 
preacher  of  the  gospel  in  public  or  in  their 
own  habitations.  I  made  it  a  prominent 
object  in  my  tour,  to  learn  the  moral  con- 
dition of  these  Townships.  I  told  you  they 
were  mostly  settled  from  the  United  States. 
Many  of  these  carried  with  them,  from  the 
respective  churches  to  which  they  belonged, 
letters  of  recommendation,  which  they  have 
never  had  an  opportunity  of  presenting.  I 
met  an  aged  man  of  this  description,  whose 
letter  was  dated  twenty-seven  years  before. 
By  means  of  the  recent  missionary  opera- 
tions he  is  now  enjoying  the  privileges  of  a 
christian  church. 

Eliza.  When  preaching  is  sent  to  them 
do  they  listen  attentively  ? 

Father,  All  that  have  been  engaged  as 
preachers  have  found  that  though  negligent 

3=^ 


30 


CONVERSATIONS 


11 


'(        :i 


at  first  and  inattentive,  they  have  succeed- 
ed in  awakening  an  abiding  interest ;  and 
many  churches  have  been  formed  and  are 
now  in  a  prosperous  state.  One  of  the  min- 
isterial associations  in  Massachusetts  has 
furnished  from  their  own  number,  a  preach- 
er for  these  townships  for  three  or  four 
summers  in  succession.  One  of  these  mis- 
sionaries, in  his  report,  states  that,  aUhough 
at  first  he  had  but  very  few  hearers,  tlieir 
number  increased  until  he  had  what  would 
be  called  a  respectable  congregation  in  any 
place  of  its  size.  One  of  his  hearers  came 
regularly  from  a  distance  of  twelve  miles, 
another  twenty,  and  on  a  communion  sea- 
son a  man  and  his  wife  came  thirty  miles 
and  brought  a  babe  to  be  baptized.  He  also 
spoke  of  a  young  man,  who  traveled  more 
than  fifty  miles  to  unite  with  his  church. 
He  was  invited  to  address  a  maternal  asso- 
ciation, which  had  been  formed  in  one  of 
the  places  where  he  labored,  and  although 
the  weather  was  excessively  hot,  twenty- 
five  mothers  were  present.     Some  walked 


,i 


■,j>^i*Bn^ 


of 


ON      CANADA. 


31 


n 


more  than  four  miles,  and  ten  more  than 
two  miles. 

Mary.  Have  they  Temperance  Societies 
in  Canada  7 

Father,  To  some  extent.  The  missionary 
above  mentioned  found  a  flourishing  tem- 
perance society,  which  originated  through 
the  influence  of  a  Temperance  Almanac, 
and  some  who  were  confirmed  in  habits  of 
intemperance  have  been  reclaimed  by  it. 

Catharine.  How  much  good  that  person 
has  done  who  bought  thg,t  almanac,  or  sent 
it  there. 

Father.  No  more  than  is  in  the  power  of 
every  little  child  to  do,  Avho  refrains  from 
expending  its  sixpence  for  self-indulgence, 
and  casts  it  into  some  benevolent  treasury. 

Charles.  Are  Sabbath  Schools  extensive- 
ly established  ? 

Father,  They  have  been  established  and 
stopped  for  want  of  men  to  conduct  and  feel 
an  interest  in  sustaining  them.  It  is  iiffi- 
cult  for  those  of  us,  who  are  hedged  in  by 
religious  institutions,  to  form  any  adequate 


N 


I 


■"^"^^wwiiwwmwpiiiH^pi 


f,'i— 


32 


CONVERSATIONS 


'I  i 


i: 


Hi!: 


i 


idea  of  the  situation  of  those,  on  whom  no 
such  influence  is  exerted  from  any  quarter. 
No  Bibles,  ro  tracts;  bu  tchildren  growing 
up  without  the  knowledge  of  God :  and  thig 
not  or^ly  in  one  place,  but  with  few  excep- 
tions throughout  the  whole  Townships ; 
containing  a  population  of  many  thousand 
30uls. 

Mrs,  M,  Have  they  not  had  some 
itinerating  preachers  to  counteract  this 
influence  7 

Father.  Some;  but  Canada  has  been  the 
resort  of  mant/,  who  were  not  regularly  au- 
thorized to  preach,  and  who,  I  am  sorry  to 
Sjay,  have  created  prejudices  against  religion 
rather  than  extended  its  mild  influences. 
Where  judicious  and  faithful  preachers 
have  labored,  they  have  universally  raised 
the  desires  and  hopes  of  the  people  for  a 
permanent  ministry ;  but  their  expectations 
have  beeii  so  often  cut  oflTthat  they  are  dis- 
couraged ;  for  you  know  ■ '  hope  deferred 
piaketh  the  heart  sick." 

JEliza,  I  should  think  they  could  support 


..,y,*i. 


^miM 


port 


ON      CANADA.. 


33 


the  gospel  without  the  assistance  of  mis- 
sionary societies '? 

Father.  They  could,  undoubtedly,  if  there 
was  union  of  relisjious  sentiment  and  moral 
feeling  ;  but  there  are  many  obstacles  to  be 
removed  before  they  can  support  the  gos- 
pel themselves.  There  is  scarcely  a  Town- 
ship in  Lower  Canada,  which  is  not  abun- 
dantly able  to  furnish  support  for  a  minis- 
ter ;  but  as  the  institutions  of  the  Establish- 
ed Church  are  free,  and  the  labors  of  the 
Wesleyans  were  not  chargeable  to  them, 
they  have  been  in  the  habit  of  hearing 
preaching  gratuitously  and  have  not  asso- 
ciated in  their  minds  religious  privileges 
and  expense.  Besides  there  is  a  stagnation; 
a  want  of  enterprise,  which  always  accom- 
panies religious  destitution  however  desir- 
able the  location  or  rich  the  soil ;  where 
the  restraints  of  the  Gospel  are  taken  off,  no 
community  can  be  called  prosperous. 

Henry.  Are  the  people  in  Canada  gene- 
rally poorl 

Father.    Not  generally  ;  but  as  I  have 


•^'n^^miimmm 


34 


CONVE  R  SATIONS 


said,  the  lands  in  Co-nada  are  all  tax  free 
and  this  has  induced  many  to  go  in  there 
to  repair  wasted  fortunes  or  to  gain  a  live- 
lihood when  they  had  been  disappointed  in 
the  means  of  support.  Some  have  succeed* 
ed  ;  but  it  is  really  n^elancholy  to  see  those, 
who  once  moved  in  a  high  circle  and  en* 
joyed  the  privileges  of  a  land  particularly 
blessed  of  God,  destitute  not  only  of  all  the 
ordinances  of  the  gospel,  but  also  the  com^ 
forts  of  life.  I  called  on  one  family  of  this 
description,  which  excited  my  sympathy 
wry  much.  The  lady  was  originally  from 
England  ;  an  intelligent,  interesting  woman 
and  blessed  with  a  superior  education. 
Their  habitation  was  humble ;  the  onter 
door  so  low  that  I  could  not  enter  it  with-, 
out  stooping.  She  sat  in  the  only  room  the 
dwelling  contained,  with  an  infant. m  her 
arins,  on  a  kind  of  rocking  chair  framed  by 
an  affectionate  husband.  The  other  furni- 
ture consisted  of  a  couch  or  bed,  a  three 
legged  stool,  a  rough  box  for  a  seat  contain? 
ixig  potatoes,  and  an  old  barrel  partly  fillecj 


,'i 

I 


ON      CANADA. 


3S 


with  ottt  meal.  There  was  a  large  t)mch 
chimney  around  which  the  cooking  utensils 
were  arranged,  and  a  window  consisting  of 
four  panes  of  glass. 

Mary.  Did  she  appear  contented  and 
happy  7 

Father,  Yes,  and  full  of  faith  and  love  to 
God.  1  visited  her  frequently,  and  once  as 
I  alluded  to  her  humble  habitation,  she  a-* 
marked  ;  "  it  is  a  tine  place  from  which  to 
look  out  to  a  habitation  above." 

Catharine.  Was  she  a  member  of  a 
church  ? 

Father.  Yes.  And  when  her  child  was 
six  Weeks  old  she  walked  five  miles  that 
she  might  secure  foi'  it  the  rite  of  baptism. 

Henry.  O  mama,  will  you  not  let  uaf 
form  a  society  for  the  support  of  a  mission-^ 
ary  in  Canada '? 

Mrs.  M,  Most  Willingly  would  I  assist 
you  in  such  an  undertaking ;  and  you  may^ 
if  you  please,  devote  what  you  have  already 
earned  this  year  for  that  purpose. 

Charles.     How  manv  missionaries  are? 

0 

now  laboring  there  7 


r 


36 


CONVERSATIONS 


Father.  There  are  eleven  named  in  the 
last  "  Report  of  the  Canada  Home  Mission- 
ary and  Education  Society."  Beside  these, 
there  arc  some  settled  pastors  supported  by 
the  people  among  whom  tliey  labor. 

Eliza.  I  suppose  Montreal  supports  its 
own  ministry  7 

Father,  O  yes,  and  much  more.  Indeed 
it  is  the  centre  of  all  moral  and  religious 
influence  in  the  province.  It  has  an  effi- 
cient Bible  Society,  which  has  resolved  to 
supply  every  family  in  the  province  with  a 
copy  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  has  alrea- 
dy accomplished  much  of  this  good  work. 
It  is  also  feelingly  alive  to  the  subject  of 
Temperance,  and  in  the  city  alone,  within 
a  few  months,  one  thousand  have  pledged 
themselves  to  total  abstinence  from  all  in- 
toxicating drinks. 

Mrs.  M.  What  is  the  situation  of  com- 
mon schools  in  Canada ') 

Father.  There  is  but  little  interest  felt 
in  them ;  but  they  have  a  school  fund, 
which  enables  them  to  support  a  competent 
number  of  teachers. 


ON       CANADA. 


37 


Mary.    Mow  was  this  I'liiul  obtiiiiieJ  ? 

Futker.  VV  hen  the  French  giivc  up  their 
country  to  the  English,  it  wus  stipnhitediii 
the  treaty,  that  the  Frencli  should  retain 
their  SeigniorieSj  their  laws  and  their  reh- 
gioii,  but  they  were  to  give  up  the  order  of 
Jesuits  witli  the  death  of  those  who  were 
then  Hving  among  them.  The  property  of 
this  order,  wliich  was  large,  then  reverted 
to  the  crown  and  was  constituted  a  school 
fund  for  the  benefit  of  the  provinces.  Spe- 
cial efforts  have  recently  been  made,  in  con- 
nexion with  missionary  exertions,  to  sup- 
ply the  country  with  efficient  and  pious 
teachers,  and  more  than  one  thousand  chil- 
dren have,  the  last  year,  been  for  the  first 
time  under  stich  instruction. 


CANADA. 


PART  II. 


"  If  any  one  should  call  for  me,"  said 
Mr.  M.  to  his  wife,  rising  from  the  tea-table 
and  taking  his  hat  and  cloak,  "  tell  them 
I'm  engaged  in  business  with  Mr.  B." 

"  O  papa,  papa,"  was  heard  simultane- 
ously from  the  younger  part  of  the  family 
circle,  "  you  promised  us  a  description  of 
the  remainder  of  your  tour  to  Canada,  the 
first  time  we  recited  our  lessons  perfectly, 
and  not  one  of  us  have  failed  to-day." 

The  father  hesitated,  but  as  his  business 
required  his  presence  at  that  hour,  he  step- 


VMMI 


massoKtm 


40 


C  O  N  V  K  11  y  A  T  1  ()  N  S 


III 


t 


I ' 


!' 


ped  to  the  library,  riiul  taking  Silliman's 
tour  from  Hartford  to  Uiicbec,  requested  liis 
wife  to  rt^ad  to  tliem  soine  of  his  into'-estiiiq 
f^^ketclics.  promising  to  return  in  a  sfiort 
time.  The  honr  passed  rapidh^  away,  and 
lie  found  tl;em  on  his  return  all  ea^er  lis- 
teners. 

"  I  have  r'^ad  these  descriptions  with  a 
new  interest,"  said  Mrs.  M.  "  1  had  for- 
gotten that  so  mucli  beauty  and  importance 
was  attaclied  to  Montreal." 

Father.  The  view  of  the  city,  as  you  ap- 
proach it,  is  indeed  singularly  beautiful.  It 
stretches  nearly  two  miles  along  the  river; 
is  more  than  half  a  mile  in  breadth,  and  is 
said  to  cover  more  than  1000  acres.  A  high" 
mountain  rises  directly  behind  it,  and  its 
dark  green  verdure  forms  a  pleasing  con- 
trast with  the  '•  silver-roofed"  buiklings. 

Henry.  But,  papa.  Cousin  S.  said  it  was 
a  gloomy  place  ,  that  the  streets  v/ere  very 
narrow  and  the  houses  old  fashioned. 

Father.  To  a  youth  from  Pliiladelphia, 
it  might  appear  so,  for  it  is  entirely  unlike 


ON      CANADA. 


41 


an  American  city.  The  houses  are  built 
of  grey-lime-stone,  some  of  them  without 
hawing  at  all  and  coarsely  daubed  with 
mortar.  Many  of  them  and  the  shops  have 
iron  doors  and  iron  frames  to  fortify  their 
window  shutters.  Every  thing  looks  for- 
eign about  it.  The  barracks,  that  are  oc- 
cupied by  the  soldiers  at  the  lower  end  of 
the  city,  are  built  in  the  French  style,  and 
the  streets,  except  the  new  ones,  are  much 
narrower  than  ours. 

Mrs.  M.  But  I  have  heard  that  Montreal 
contained  some  ekgant  buildinP''^ 

Father,  I  did  not  intend  you  should  un- 
derstand ihat  all  were  erected  ir  this  way. 
There  are  many  both  public  and  private 
buildings  of  hewn  stone  that  would  adorn 
any  city. 

Eliza.    Is  Montreal  regularly  laid  out  7 

Father.  Yes.  The  principal  streets  run 
parallel  with  the  banks  of  the  river,  and 
others  of  importance  cross  them  at  right 
angles.  The  whole  extent  of  what  is  em- 
braced within  the  limits  of  the  city,  is  not 
4# 


mm 


ii 


''I 


i 


42 


CONVERSATIONS 


f 


covered  with  biiildiiigs  so  closely  as  is  gen- 
erally the  case  in  large  towns.  Uui  it  is 
the  scenery  connected  with  and  aroimd 
Montreal  that  constitntes  its  chief  beanty. 

Catharine.  I  did  not  know  until  this 
evening,  that  Montreal  is  on  an  island.  Is 
it  a  large  one  ? 

Father.  It  is  of  a  triang  ilar  form  thirty- 
two  miles  in  length,  and  ten  and  a  half 
across  the  widest  part. 

Mary.  Is  the  city  on  one  of  the  extreme 
points  of  the  island  ? 

Father,  No.  It  is  about  half  way  be- 
tween them,  exactly  at  the  head  of  ship 
navigation. 

Mrs^  M.  But  I  have  heard  legrets  ex- 
pressed that  the  city  was  not  built  a  little 
below  its  present  site,  on  account  of  afford- 
ing a  better  opportunity  for  navigation. 

Father.  This  is  only  on  account  of  the 
rapid  of  St.  Mary  near  one  of  the  suburbs 
of  the  city  ;  but  this  inconvenience  is  reme- 
died by  the  La' chine  canal,  an  improvement 
of  great  value. 


ON      CANADA. 


43 


Charles.  Father,  you  said  many  of  tlieir 
public  buildings  are  stone  ;  will  you  please 
mention  some  of  them. 

Father.  The  building  called  the  Paro- 
chial church  is  pronounced  "  the  most  mag- 
nificent pile  of  sacred  architecture  in  Ame- 
rica." The  front  presents  a  piazza  with 
three  lofty  entrances  supported  by  columns, 
bounded  on  each  side  by  large  square  tow- 
ers. It  has  two  tiers  of  spacious  galleries 
and  will  receive  within  its  walls  lohen 
crowded^  15,000  people,  about  half  the  pop- 
ulation of  the  city.  A  gentleman  belonging 
to  Canada  said  to  me  that  he  went  into  it 
when  the  walls  were  building  and  saw  the 
materials  carried  up  to  the  workmen  by 
means  of  a  spiral  pathway.  This  will  give 
y^ou  some  idea  of  its  size,  for  the  enclosure 
;. :/f.s/  he  large  that  would  admit  of  such  a 
p  uh  or  a  team. 

JjJilza.     Is  this  a  Catholic  church? 

Father.  Yes,  and  it  is  open  for  the  poor 
deluded  worshipers  every  day  from  morn- 
ing till  night.     On  going  in  you  will  see 


apB 


■<«■■ 


rniHiuMj-—  -^4111"  J11  i)Mw 


j 


44 


CONVERS A  TiONS 


ii 


! 


J  ': 


some  kneeling,  some  crossing  themselves, 
some  sitting  in  the  pews  or  on  benches 
around  the  walls  dounting  their  beads,  &c. 

Henry.    Should  we  see  any  priests  there  7 

Father.  Yes ;  but  they  would  be  in  little 
closets  or  boxes,  where  they  go  in  to  hear 
confessions. 

Catharine,  Are  there  pictures  and  ima- 
ges in  this  chui      ^ 

Father.  Yes,  m.aiy.  The  image  of  Christ 
is  opposite  the  door  where  you  enter.  When 
I  was  in,  I  saw  some  kneeling  before  that 
and  other  pictures  and  images  ;  sometimes 
on  one  knee,  sometimes  on  both.  Like  all 
Catholic  churches,  it  has  a  dish  near  the 
door  containing  Holy  water ;  so  that  those 
who  enter  may  dip  their  fingers  and  cross 
themselves.  Sometimes  this  is  done  on  the 
breast,  sometimes  on  the  forehead. 

Henry.     What  makes  the  water  holy  ? 

Father,  I  am  unable  to  answer  you.  I 
made  many  inquiries  about  this  foolish  su- 
perstition and  heard  various  reasons  assign^ 
ed  fop  it.     Some  believe  that  it  is  collected 


i 

''I 


I 
I 


ON      CANADA. 


45 


on  a  (lay  in  the  year,  which  lliey  consider 
as  the  anniversary  of  the  commencement  of 
Noah's  liood  ;  I  suppose  wliether  it  rains  or 
not.  Others  suppose  that  its  holiness  is 
the  result  of  a  miracle  performed  npon  it 
by  the  priest. 

Mary.  How  is  it  possible,  papa,  tliat 
people  can  be  made  to  believe  such  non- 
sense l 

Father.  An  unenlightened  Cathohc,  my 
cliild,  believes  implicitly  whatever  is  told 
him  by  a  priest,  and  many  of  tliem  beheve 
that  the  power  of  the  priest  is  superior  to 
that  of  any  other  being.  I  engaged  one  of 
this  description  to  take  me  a  short  journey, 
and  he  amused  me  most  of  the  way  by  re- 
lating miracles  performed  by  the  priests  in 
da3^s  gone  by. 

Charles.  Will  you  not  repeat  some  of 
them  ? 

Father .  I  can  recollect  but  two  or  three. 
He  told  me  there  was  at  one  time  a  hre  in 
one  of  the  villages  that  threatened  to  destroy 
it.     The  terriiied  inhabitants,  after  using 


* 


\! 


i 


^ 


46 


CONVERSATIONS 


I  < 


every  means  to  subdue  it,  sent  for  the  priests 
to  come  to  their  assistance.     They  went, 
and  making  a  mark  in  the  earth  between 
the  church  and  the  flames,  they  ceased 
raging  nor  dared  go  over  their  prescribed 
bounds.     At  another  time  a  section  of  the 
country  was  greatly  infested  with  grass- 
hoppers.   Fearing  they  would  devour  every 
living  thing,  the  inhabitants  collected  the 
priests,  who  prayed  them  out  of  their  coasts. 
On  another  occasion  there  was  a  long  con- 
tinued rain,  which  caused  a  river  to  rise  so 
rapidly  that  great  fears  were  entertained 
lest  the  surrounding  country  should  be  in- 
undated.    The  priests  were  sent  for  to  stop 
the  rain.     They  commenced  praying,  and 
he  told  me,  although  the  rain  ceased  not, 
yet  a  much  greater  miracle  was  performed ; 
for  the  channel  not  being  able  to  contain 
the  body  of  water,  it  rose  up  full  two  feet 
from  its  banks  and  thus  moved  off  in  one 
solid  column.     If  the  poor  Catholics  can  be 
made  to  believe  such  absurdities  as  these, 
you  will  not  wonder  that  they  regard  as 


i 


ON      CANADA. 


47 


sacred  what  their  priests  tell  them  is  ho- 

Mary,  There  are  other  Catholic  churches 
I  suppose  in  Montreal  7 

Father,  Yes.  There  is  the  Catholic  Ca- 
thedral, three  Catholic  churches  and  a  cha- 
pel connected  with  each  of  the  three  nun- 
neries. 

Eliza.  But  is  not  that  large  church  a 
Cathedral  7 

Father,  It  is  not  called  so.  I  understand 
a  Cathedral  to  be  a  church  where  the 
Bishop  statedly  officiates. 

Catharine.  Are  there  no  Protestant 
churches  there  7 

Father,  Yes,  several,  and  the  steeple  to 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  is  a  very 
"  tasteful  and  prominent  ornament  of  the 
city." 

Mrs,  M,  Has  not  Montreal  increased 
quite  rapidly  in  importance  within  a  few 
years  7 

Father,  Yes.  It  has  increased  the  num- 
ber of  its  inhabitants  nearly  one  third,  since 


48 


CONVERSATIONS 


■  \ 


I.; 


u 


3J> 


.,   ,. 


1825,  and  its  increase  of  commerce,  agri- 
culture and  manufactures  are  in  proportion. 
It  is  no  doubt  destined  to  become  one  of  the 
greatest  channels  for  trade  in  North  Ameri- 
ca. 

Charles.     Why  is  it  better  than  Boston, 
papa  7  it  is  not  so  large. 

Father.  Its  size  does  not  constitute  its 
importance,  my  son,  but  its  situation.  It 
is  a  point  where  all  the  vast  surrounding 
countries  connect  themselves  with  the 
ocean.  Boston  and  other  ports  of  the  kind, 
are  connected  with  the  surrounding  coun- 
tries only  by  means  of  railways  and  canals, 
but  here  nearly  six  hundred  miles  in  the 
interior,  Montreal,  by  means  of  the  St.  I^aw- 
rence  and  other  rivers,  derives  all  the  bene- 
fit of  a  direct  ship  communication  with  the 
other  parts  of  the  world. 

Mary.  Were  its  advantages  in  this  re- 
spect known  at  the  time  of  its  settlement  '\ 

Father.  Yes.  The  location  was  selected 
by  Jaques  Cartier,  who  sailed  Tip  the  St. 
Lawrence  to  that  point.     It  is  said  to  de- 


ON      CANADA. 


49 


;tuii, 


rivo  its  name  from  the  boautifi.il  mountain, 
which  raises  its  head  several  hundred  feet 
'  in  the  rear  of  the  city  ;  ilie  word  originally 
signifying  the  Royal  Mountain. 

Catkarhie,  Is  Quehcc  as  romantic  as 
Montreal  7 

Father.  It  is  entirely  dilferent.  Every 
view  of  Quehcc  is  bold  and  magnificent  and 
excites  sublime  emotions,  while  some  of  the 
views  of  Montreal  are  deUcately  beautiful. 
Quebec  is  a  fortress  and  seems  designed  by 
nature  for  this  purpose. 

Charles.  Was  it  intended  for  the  Capital 
when  it  was  first  settled  ] 

Father.  Yes.  It  was  selected  as  the 
place  best  fitted  to  administer  the  govern- 
ment of  the  colony,  by  the  French  king's 
geographer  in  1G()8.  It  was  then  an  Indian 
village  upon  the  promontory  now  named 
Cape  Diamond.  Quebec  is  divided  into  the 
upper  and  lower  city  ;  the  latter  is  built  on 
the  water's  edge,  the  former  on  the  fortress 
more  than  340  feet  above  it. 


5 


.  J 


50 


CONVERSATIONS 


I' 


Eliza.  Is  this  rise  only  where  the  city 
is  built,  or  does  it  extend  farther  7 

Father.  1  remarked  to  you  that  the  banks 
of  the  St.  Lawrence  were  low.  They  begin 
to  rise  from  Cape  Roque,  a  few  miles. above 
Quebec,  and  after  various  hills  and  preci- 
pices attain  the  height  of  Cape  Diamond. 
On  the  North  bank  of  the  river  the  plains 
of  Abraham  stretch  themselves.  Here  you 
will  recollect  General  Wolfe  was  slain,  and 
the  towers  that  stand  for  the  defence  of  these 
plains  are  the  first  that  meet  the  eye  of  the 
traveler  as  he  descends  the  river  from  Mon- 
treal. 

Henri/.  How  many  are  there  of  these 
towers  7 

Father  Four,  called  Martello  Towers. 
They  are  round  and  built  of  stone. 

Charles.     Are  they  high  and  strong  1 

Father.  About  forty  feet  high  and  very 
strong,  except  the  side  opposite  the  town. 
This  side  is  made  so  that  if  an  enemy 
should  ever  gain  them,  they  could  be  de- 
stroyed by  the  cannon  from  the  city. 


i 


ON      CANADA. 


51 


Mary.  Are  the  cannon,  which  fortify 
the  city,  higher  than  those  on  the  plains  of 
Abraham '? 

Father.  Yes,  but  in  order  that  you  should 
understand  them,  I  will  tell  you  a  little 
more  of  the  situation  of  the  place.  The 
upper  town  is  entirely  surrounded  by  an 
almost  impenetrable  stone  wall.  It  is  about 
three  miles  in  circuit  and  has  ponderous 
arches  and  strong  massy  gateways  and 
gates.  This  wall  is  all  that  separates  the 
city  from  the  plains  of  Abraham  on  the 
South,  these  being  only  a  continuance  of 
the  mountainous  bank.  The  front  of  the 
town  is  circular  and  more  than  half  the  dis- 
tance round  is  supported  by  a  naked  black 
rocky  precipice.  The  wall  I  mentioned 
surmounts  these  rocks  also,  and  the  highest 
points  are  crowned  with  towers.  Here  is 
a  view  of  Quebec  as  you  approach  it  from 
the  South  West,  with  the  plains  of  Abraham 
and  the  towers ;  but  the  best  idea  of  the 
city  can  be  gained  from  the  frontispiece^ 
For  both  of  these  plates  we  are  indebted  to- 
Silliman. 


;12 


CONVERSATIONS 


1 


C/2 

6 

c 


a; 
o 

3 

Of 


O 

a. 

<; 


ON      CANADA. 


5:3 


Catharine.    How  tliick  are  these  walls  ? 

Father.  They  vary  iu  thickness  accord- 
ing to  the  height  of  the  batik,  and  means  of 
-ascending  it.  On  that  part  towards  the 
plains  of  Abraham,  which  is  the  only  side 
that  an  enemy  could  enter  the  city,  the 
walls  are  fifty  feet  thick,  and  nearly  the 
same  in  height.  A  deep  ditch  is  dug  di- 
Tectly  beneath  it,  then  another  wall  is  rais- 
ed and  another  ditch.  The  cannon  on  the 
highest  wall  are  so  situated  as  to  make 
dreadful  havoc  among  any,  who  should  at- 
tempt to  scale  the  outside  wall  or  cross  the 
ditch. 

Eliza.  Did  you  see  the  castle  of  St. 
Louis  ? 

Father.  Yes  ;  it  stands  on  the  very  edge 
of  the  precipice  I  have  described  to  you.  It 
is  the  residence  of  the  governor  of  the  pro- 
vince. It  was  formerly  a  French  fortress 
and  covered  four  acres  of  ground.  Since 
that  time  it  has  undergone  many  changes. 
The  present  castle  is  a  plain  yellow  struc- 
ture of  stone,  and  is  the  front  of  a  large 
5# 


54 


C  O  N  V  E  U  S  A  T  I  O  N  S 


I 


square,  in  which  are  contained  pnbhc  of- 
fices and  rooms  for  pubHc  amusements ;. 
also  a  guard-house,  stable  and  extensive- 
gardens.  The  front  of  the  building,  which 
almost  overlooks  the  lower  town,  is  more 
than  160  feet  long,  and  a  gallery  runs  its 
whole  length.  This  gallery  is  supported 
by  lofty  pillars,  which  are  built  up  and  rest 
upon  the  rock  below.  The  foundation  of 
these  pillars  are  about  200  feet  above  the 
lower  town,  and  you  can  stand  in  the  gal- 
lery and  see  all  the  movf-ments  of  the  little 
world  directly  beneath  you.  Indeed  you 
feel  absolutely  unsafe  and  giddy  to  look 
perpendicularly  down  upon  the  confusion 
cittd  jargon  of  the  lower  city.  It  has  been 
remarked  that  not  only  from  this  situation, 
but  from  the  walls  of  the  upper  town,  a 
stone  could  be  dropped  into  the  chimnies 
below  ;  and  in  most  cases  before  reaching 
the  object,  it  would  fall  two  or  three  hun- 
dred feet. 

Mrs.  M.     How  is  the  lower  city  forti- 
fied 7 


i 


ON      CAN  A  DA. 


55 


of- 


Father.  Principally  by  the  fortifications 
above. 

Charles.  I  do  not  understand  exactly 
how  this  city  can  be  under  the  other.  Was 
it  built  before  or  after  that  7 

Father.  When,  the  upper  city  was  set- 
tled, there  was  nothing  but  a  landing  where 
the  lower  city  now  stands.  The  St.  Law- 
rence then  washed  the  foot  of  the  precipices, 
and  ships  were  confined  by  rings  being 
driven  with  staples  into  the  rocks.  For 
some  cause  the  water  is  not  so  high  as  then, 
and  buildings  are  crowded  in  the  most  com- 
pact manner  possible  on  this  narrow  strip 
between  the  precipices  and  the  St.  Law- 
rence to  the  distance  of  nearly  two  miles. 
It  is  merely  a  business  place  and  the  streets 
are  dirty  and  narrow.  The  rocks  jut  over 
some  of  the  buildings  and  look  as  though 
they  would  fall  and  crush  them ;  but  no 
part  of  the  houses  of  the  upper  town  are 
visible  below. 

Henry.  How  do  they  get  into  the  upper 
town  ? 


66 


CONVERSATIONS 


I 


Father.  By  steep  and  intricate  avenues^ 
and  at  every  turn  cannon  are  pointing  to- 
guard  them. 

Charles.  Can  they  go  up  otherwise  than 
on  foot  '\ 

Father.  The  Canadian  horses  go  up, 
but  I  had  much  rather  trust  myself  on  my 
feet  than  endure  the  fear  of  being  thrust 
backwards  from  these  heights. 

Mary.  What  is  the  appearance  of  the 
city  as  you  enter  it  7 

Father.  You  at  first  find  yourself  in 
narrow  streets  with  high  stone  buildings  on 
each  side,  which  give  it  a  very  gloomy  ap- 
pearance ;  but  you  soon  come  in  sight  of  a 
delightful  promenade,  public  buildings  and 
the  soldier's  barracks,  which  afford  quite  a 
pleasing  variety.  There  is  not  much  ivithin 
the  city  to  admire ;  but  the  distant  views 
presented  to  the  eye,  particularly  from  Cape 
Diamond,  where  the  Fort  is  built,  surpass 
for  grandeur,  beauty  and  diversity  any  I 
have  ever  witnessed.  Indeed  it  is  said  by 
those,  who  have  visited  foreign  countries, 


I 


mm 


ON      CANADA. 


57 


■■'•■ 


that  they  are  not  exceeded  by  any  on  the 
globe.  In  tlie  variegated  expanse  laid  ont 
before  you,  stupendous  rocks,  immense 
rivers,  trackless  forests,  cultivated  plains, 
mountains,  lakes,  towns  and  villages  alter- 
nately strike  the  attention.  If  you  add  to 
these  scenes  the  fact,  that  beneath  you  is 
rolling  through  the  channel  of  the  St.  liaw- 
rence  the  immense  bodies  of  fresh  water, 
which  are  the  ornament  of  our  country  and 
the  admiration  of  the  world,  descending 
like  another  sea  to  swell  the  bosom  of  the 
Atlantic,  the  scene  is  overpowering  and 
tremendous. 

Mrs.  AT.  Are  the  falls  of  Montmnenci 
seen  from  this  point  7 

Father.  In  favorable  weather  hey  are 
distinctly  seen  in  all  their  beauty,  leaping 
down  a  precipice  of  more  than  2(H)  feet. 

Eliza.  Father,  you  said  these  views 
are  from  Cape  Diamond  where  the  fort  is 
built ;  is  the  fort  within  the  city  7 

Father.  It  is  within  the  city  walls  ;  but 
so  situated  that  it  could  defend  itself  and 


58 


C  ONVERS ATIONS 


1      tf.S. 


destroy  the  whole  city  in  case  of  any  mu- 
tiny there.  It  is  even  said,  though  I  can- 
not vouch  for  the  truth  of  it,  that  there  is  a 
train  of  preparations  by  which  the  city 
€ould  be  instantaneously  bloAvn  up,  if  there 
was  danger  of  its  falling  into  the  hands  of 
an  enemy. 

Catharine.  Yon  said  that  the  wall  was 
all  that  separated  the  city  from  the  plains 
of  Abraham  ;  can  you  go  easily  from  one 
place  to  the  other '? 

Father.  Yes,  you  have  only  to  pass 
through  a  gate,  when  you  will  find  your- 
self on  the  ground  which  drank  the  heart's- 
folood  of  the  noble  Wolfe  and  others. 

Mrs.  M.  What  peculiar  feelings  are  ex- 
cited on  viewing  a  battle  ground.  As  we 
passed  Chippewa,  when  I  visited  Niagara 
Falls,  imagination  peopled  it  with  the  con- 
tending armies,  and  I  almost  fancied  I 
heard  the  groans  of  the  dying. 

Father.  How  then  would  you  have  felt, 
had  you  been  v/ith  me  when  I  visited  this 
interesting  spot.     It  was  on  a  day  when 


/ 


/ 


ON      CANADA. 


59 


of 


, 


the  Queen's  troops  were  reviewed  out  upon 
these  plains  by  the  Commander  in  Chief. 
Of  course  there  was  warhke  music ;  the 
troops  were  arranged  as  for  fighting,  and 
the  movements  of  different  portions  of  them 
were  in  imitation  of  a  battle.  Imagination 
could  easily  supply  all  that  was  necessary 
in  order  to  see  before  me  the  spirits  of  the 
heroes  and  veterans  6f  former  days  urging 
on  to  death  or  victory.  In  the  midst  of  it, 
to  perfect  the  delusion,  the  muffled  drum 
was  heard  as  if  in  mourning  for  the  dead 
and  dying.  For  a  moment  1  forgot  where 
I  was  or  when  I  lived ;  and  was  only  arous- 
ed from  the  reverie  by  the  sight  of  a  com- 
pany of  Highlanders,  who  Avere  following 
a  fellow  soldier  to  the  silent  crave;  and 
from  whom  I  found  proceeded  the  sound  of 
the  muffled  drum. 

Charles.  I  never  knew  until  mama  told 
us  that  the  victory  of  General  Wolfe  pre- 
pared the  way  for  the  independence  of  A- 
morica.  She  explained  it  to  us  Indepen- 
dence day,  and  told  us  she  thought  you 


si^' 


/  \ 


00 


CONVERSATIONS 


''?f% 


might  be  on  the  spot  where  he  fell  at  that 
time. 

Mary.  Did  you  spend  Independence 
there  ? 

Father,     No.    I  was  at ,  on  July  4, 

but  it  passed  in  such  a  manner  as  plainly 
to  tell  me  1  was  in  another  country  than  my 
own.  They  have  no  sympathy  at  all  with 
the  states  in  commemorating  the  events, 
which  were  followed  with  such  benefits  to 
America  and  the  world. 

Eliza.     What  days  do  they  celebrate'? 

Father.  July  17  is  a  holiday  with  the 
Irish  and  is  kept  in  celebration  of  Noah's 
flood. 

Henry.  Do  they  keep  it  as  we  do  Inde- 
pendence 7 

Father.  As  some  do ;  by  drinking  and 
fighting.  July  12  is  also  a  day  much  anti- 
cipated by  a  part  of  the  Canadians.  It  is 
the  anniversary  of  the  celebrated  battle  of 
the  Boyne.  William  III.  king  of  England 
passed  this  river  on  that  day,  and  by  a  vic- 
torious battle  gained  the  freedom  of  Ireland. 


^.  Mo.^.-^.>M*«i«MM 


ON      CANADA. 


61 


There  has  often  been  blood  shed  on  that 
day,  particularly  hi  the  old  country.  As 
William  was  Prince  of  Orange,  the  Protes- 
tants wear  badges  of  orange  color,  and  carry, 
their  charters  and  their  flags  containing  the 
laws  of  Parliament ;  much  to  the  annoy- 
ance of  the  Catholics. 

Mrs.  M,  What  other  towns  worthy  of 
notice,  did  you  visit  between  Quebec  and 
Montreal  7 

Father,  The  town  of  Sorel  or  Wm.  Hen  - 
ry  is  a  place  of  importance.  It  is  situated 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river  bearing  the  same 
name  ;  built  of  wood,  regularly  laid  out  and 
comprises  120  acres.  It  contains  many 
squares,  however,  which  add  much  to  its 
beauty,  and  the  shores  being  bold  give  it  an 
inviting  appearance.  It  is  important  as  the 
point  of  communication  between  Lake 
Champlain  and  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  is 
the  summer  residence  of  the  Governor  of 
the  province.  It  is  also  of  great  importance 
to  those  who  shall  engage  in  evangelizing 
Canada. 

6 


fr 


7 


F 


62 


CONVERSATIONS 


t  i. 


l! 


i     ! 


Charles.     Has  it  a  large  population  1 

Father.  No.  I  was  told  at  some  sea- 
sons of  the  year  it  numbered  more  than 
2000;  but  its  importance  arises  from  its 
being  in  the  heart  of  the  Catholic  country, 
and  accessible  from  every  direction.  Be- 
sides the  way  is  prepared  for  a  religious 
influence  there.  Many  of  its  inhabitants 
may  be  considered  as  favorable  to  pure  re- 
ligion, and  they  have  a  flourishing  Sabbath 
school. 

Maryi.  Would  this  place  rank  in  impor- 
tance 7iext  to  (iuebec  and  Montreal  1 

Father.  No.  The  town  of  Three  Rivers, 
half  way  between  these  two  points,  is  the 
third  in  importance  in  the  province.  The 
tide'  in  the  St.  Lawrence  sets  up  to  this 
place.  It  derives  its  name  from  the  St. 
Maurice  River,  which  empties  here  into  the 
St.  Lawrence,  and  is  divided  at  its  mouth 
into  three  parts  by  little  islands  j  so  that 
there  seems  to  be  three  rivers  instead  of 
one. 

Eliza.     Is  this  valuable  as  a  port  7 


ON      CANADA. 


63 


Father.  There  is  no  harbor,  though 
vessels  lie  there,  and  steam-boats  stop  for 
fuel.  Near  the  place  are  extensive  iron 
works  where  stoves  are  made.  As  the 
houses  in  the  provinces  are  warmed  alto- 
gether by  stoves,  such  a  foundry  of  itself 
would  give  importance  to  a  place,  and  I 
was  told  that  from  four  to  five  hundred 
men  have  been  at  times  employed  in  this 
foundry.  As  there  is  no  sand  in  the  pro- 
vinces suitable  to  run  them  in,  it  is  import- 
ed in  large  quantities. 

Viewed  either  in  a  political  or  commer- 
cial light  the  four  places  I  have  described 
are  the  most  important  in  the  province ; 
but  the  religious  man  in  looking  at  Canada 
will  place  his  eye  on  Stanstead,  situated  on 
the  line  between  the  United  States  and 
Canada ;  Shipton  and  Melbourne  on  the 
St.  Francis  river  between  Stanstead  and 
Quebec  ;  and  Granby  and  Shefford  between 
Stanstead  and  Montreal. 

Mrs.  M.  I  have  frequently  heard  these 
places  named,  but  have  never  understood 
what  constituted  their  importance. 


' 


64 


CONVERSATIONS 


Father.  There  are  churches  established 
there ;  they  have  longer  enjoyed  the  msti- 
tutions  of  religion  and  they  are  sustained 
by  able  ministers,  who  will  sympathise 
with  the  surrounding  country  and  lend 
their  influence  to  extend  the  pure  principles 
of  the  gospel. 

Mary.  Did  not  Mr.  Parker,  of  whom 
we  have  heard  so  much,  preach  in  that  part 
of  the  province '? 

Father,  Yes,  and  he  is  still  there  labor- 
ing with  unabated  zeal ;  though  great  fears 
are  entertained  that  his  feeble  health  will 
oblige  him  to  suspend  his  labors.  Mr.  Par- 
ker's praise  is  deservedly  in  all  the  churches. 
The  trials  and  difficulties,  with  which  his 
way  has  been  hedged  up,  would  have  dis- 
couraged any  but  a  heart  that  trusted  in 
the  promises  of  God.  Mwi  he  has  struggled 
through  them  all,  comparatively  alone  ; 
and  now  has  the  happiness  of  seeing  "  the 
grain  of  mustard  seed  springing  up  and 
branching  abroad"  in  the  land  of  his  efforts. 
He  has  been  instrumental  in  forming  seve- 


^ 


ON      CANADA. 


65 


ral  churches  in  that  vicinity,  and  their  last 
''  Report"  contains  many  thrilHng  accounts 
of  the  success  of  the  gospel  among  them. 
One  of  the  n'issionaries  writes  ;  "  Several 
of  my  hearers  come  on  foot  from  four  to  five 
miles;  and  one  frequently,  I  had  almost 
said  statedly,  walks  ten  miles.  When  I 
came  here  there  had  been  no  stated  preach- 
ing in  ^one  of  the  settlements  where  I  labor 
for  eight  or  ten  years,  and  there  was  per- 
haps but  one  house  in  the  settlement  in 
which  family  worship  was  attended ;  now 
it  numbers  more  than  twenty  church  mem- 
bers, and  many  family  altars."  Another 
when  speaking  of  a  communion  season 
says ;  ''  One  female  member  of  the  church, 
who  for  two  or  three  years  had  not  enjoyed 
such  a  privilege,  walked  nine  miles,  most 
of  the  way  through  the  woods,  to  give  evi- 
dence she  had  not  forgotten  the  command 
of  the  Savior,  ^  Do  this  in  remembrance  of 
me.'  Such  instances  have  become  so  com- 
mon they  have  ceased  to  affect  me  as  they 
<o.uee  did.  I  seldom  now  make  the  inquiry 
6=«= 


66 


CONVEUSATIONS 


or  record  the  fact."  But  the  evening  is  far 
spent  and  we  must  dismiss  the  subject. 

Catharine.  Please  tell  us  first,  papa, 
where  Mr.  Chaplu  is  located,  who  left  a 
beloved  people  in  Massachusetts  tliat  he 
might  labor  in  Canada. 

Father,  He  was  installed  in  October 
last  as  pastor  of  the  churches  of  (Iranby 
and  Shefford ;  and  1  will  detain  you  a  mo- 
ment longer  while  J  read  an  extract  from 
his  journal.     "  ISpent  the  night  with  Mr. 

D. ,  found  here  an  intelligent  child  five 

years  old,  whose  history  deeply  affected 
me.  She  liad  come  on  from  l)eyond  Sher- 
brooke  eighty  miles  on  foot,  witli  a  traveling 
'  company  of  emigrants.  Her  mother  is  dead, 
and  her  father  abandoned  her,  leaving  her 
with  a  girl  of  infamous  character.  When 
her  mother  was  buried,  as  they  liad  no 
boards  in  the  settlement,  they  split  a  log 
/*'and  put  up  two  side  pieces  in  the  grave, 
dropped  her  in,  laid  another  half  log  on  the 
top,  and  covered  her  up. 

"  When  this  wearied,  worn-out  and  for- 
saken little  sufferer  reached  Granby,  she  was 


ON      CANADA. 


07 


scarce  able  to  go,  her  hard  nail-fastened 
shoes  were  a  gore  of  blood.  It  had  dropped 
from  her  feet  and  dried  in  her  shoes  when 
I  saw  them.  When  on  the  road,  and  al- 
most unable  to  stand,  she  was  tied  to  a 
chest  on  a  small  hand-cart.  The  boys 
would  nui  with  her.  Sometimes  she  fell 
off.  She  was  taken  by  Mr.  1).  in  a  needy 
plight,  and  transferred  to  a  relative  where 
I  saw  her.  And  when  I  saw  the  kind  and 
|»ious  Mrs.  D.  lay  her  down  at  night,  in  a 
little  neat  bed  on  the  floor,  and  imprint  an 
affectionate  kiss  upon  her  cheek,  and  heard 
the  happy  child  say  '  Now  I  lay  me  down 
to  sleep,'  and  '  Our  Father,  who  art  in  hea- 
ven,' I  thought  indeed  God  was  good  to  the 
orphan,  that  his  love  for  little  children  Was 
infinitely  more  parental  than  that  of  father 
and  mother.  \i  carried  me  back  to  the 
scene  when  my  own  dear  mother  taught 
me  the  same  lines,  the  first  I  ever  knew. 
As  I  knelt  down  in  our  evening  devotions, 
I  could  not  but  bless  God,  and  more  im- 
plicitly believe  that  not  a  sparrow  falls  to 
the  ground  without  his  eye." 


■"  '  ■■'  '-'mt' 


PUBLICATIONS 


OF  THE 


]7la§i$.  ^aI>S)ath  l^chooB  Society. 


Newcomb's  Scripture  Questions  ;  For  the  use  of  Sabbatli 

Schools  and  Bible  Classes.     Vol.  1.    5th  Kdition. 
Same  Interleaved,  bound  in  full  sheep. 
INewcomb's  First  Question  Book. 
Same  Interleaved. 
Infant  Sabbath  School  Question  and  Bible  Picture  Book. — 

No.  I. 
A  Biblical  Catechism,  Designed  for  Infant  Sabbath  Schools. 

No.  I.    Gth  Edition. 
Biblical  Catechism.    No.  II.    3d  Edition. 
Biblical  Catechism.    No.  III.    2d  Edition. 
Biblical  Catechism.    No.  IV.  ■ 

The  Westminster  Assembly's  Shorter  Catechism.    3d  Ed. 
Exercises  on  the  Shorter  Catechism. 
The  New  England  Primer. 
Sabbath  School  Songs.    By  Lowell  Mason. 
The  Sabbath  School  Harp.     By  Lowell  Mason. 
A  Set  of  32  Cards  for  Infant  Sabbath  Schools. 
A   Set  of   13    Miscellaneous    Cards    for    Infant    Sabbath 

Schools. 


f,:.i^1 


f    -^ 


2 


PUBLICATIONS. 


-H-\ 


Superintendent's  Companion. 

Teacher's  Companion. 

Sabbath  Scholar's  Companion. 

Teacher's  New  Year's  Gift. 

'J'he  Tea  Commandments. 

Map  of  Palestine.    3  3-4  feet  by  2  1-2. 

Same  on  Rollers. 

The  Parent's  Monitor,  and  Teacher's  Assistant. 

The  Bible  Class  Book. 

Class  Papers. 

The  Librarian's  Blank  Book. 

Teacher's  Monthly  Reports. 

|*roud  an<J  Penitent}  or  How  to  Repent. 

The  Attributes  of  God  5   being  a  series  of  Conversations 

designed  to  Illustrate  the  Character  of  God. 
Memoir  of  Lnsanna  T.  Pierce. 
The  Path  to  Heaven. 

A  Teacher's  offering  j  by  the  Wife  of  a  London  Clergyman. 
A  Sabbath  Note  Book, — containing  Minutes  of  Private, 

Family  and  Public  Worship,  the  Sabbath  School,  &,c. 
The  Scape-Goat. 
Christ  our  Passover. 
The  Plagues  of  Egypt. 

Letters  on  the  Mission  to  the  Ojibwa  Indians. 
The  Happy  Merchant  j  or  the  Power  of  Truth,  illustrated 

in  the  last  days  of  a  Young  Man. 
Stories  of  Eliot  and  the  Indians.    Ey  Wm.  A.  Alcott. 


PUBLICATIONS. 


(IS 


m. 
te, 


ted 


Missionary  Labors  and  Results  in  the  Hervey  Islands. 

History  of  the  American  Mission  to  the  Pawnee  Indians. 

The  Sabbath  School  Visiter.    Vol.  V. 

Infant  Sabbath  School  Questions. 

A  Biblical  Catechism,  for  Infant  Sabbath  Schools. 

Newcomb's  Scripture  Questions,  for  Sabbath  Schools  and 

adult  classes.    Vol.  II. 
Newcomb's  First  Question  Book.    Vol.  II. 
Memoirs  and  Select  Remains  of  Charles  Pond. 
John  Arch. 

Memoir  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Davies. 
Memoir  of  Mrs.  MyraW.  Allen.    2d  Edition. 
Memoir  of  Mary  West.    2d  Kdition. 
Memoir  of  Wm.  P.  Hutchinson.    2d  Edition. 
Memoir  of  Lucy  Maria  Bigelov/^.    2d  Edition.    ;; 
.Memoir  of  Hannah  B.  Cook.    2d  Edition.        •    if. 
Memoir  of  Ann  Elizabeth  Pierce.    2d  Edition, 
Memoir  of  Jane  Judson. 
William  Abbott  Douglass.    2d  Edition. 
Memoir  of  Felix  NefF,  Pastor  of  the  High  Alps.      , 
Robert  Cutts  Whidden.    3d  Edition. 
Memoir  of  Miss  Susanna  Anthony. 

Conversations  on  the  Sandwich  Islands  Missions.    2d  Ed'. 
Conversations  on  the  Choctaw  Mission.    2d  Edition. 
Conversations  on  the  Mackinaw  and  GreenrBay  Missiona;. 

2d  Edition. 
Ceylon  Mission.    2d  Edition. 


..:w-4. 


PUBLICATIONS 


Cherokee  MiHsion.    2d  Edition. 

Indian  Missions  at  Seneca,  Tuscarora,  and  Cattaragus,  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  Maumee,  in  the  State  of 
'     Ohio.    2d  Edition. 
Letters  on  the  Chickasaw  and  Osage  Missions.    2d  Ed. 
Conversations  on  the  Bombay  Mission.    2d  Edition. 
The  Stanwood  Family,  or  the  History  of  the  American 

Tract  Society.    2d  Edition. 
History  of  the  Pilgrims.    2d  Edition. 
The  Village  Pastor. 

An  Epitome  of  the  Evidences  of  Christianity. 
History  of  James  Mitchell.    2d  Edition. 
The  Naval  Chaplain.    2d  Edition. 
Louisa  Ralston ;   or,  What  can  I  do  for  the  Heatheh  ? — 

2d  Edition. 
Claims  of  the  Africans. 
Hugh  Clifford,  or  Prospective  Missions  on  the  North-West 

Coast. 
Stories  and  Sermons  for  Infant  Minds. 
The  Widow  of  Monmouth,  or  Family  Instruction.    Part  1. 
The  Widow  of  Monmouth,  or  Family  Instruction.    Part  II. 
The  Reformation  j  A  True  Tale  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 
Plea  for  the  Heathen  5  or  Heathenism,  Ancient  and  Mod- 
em. 
The  Little  Osage  Captive.    2d  Edition. 
The  Great  Apostacy. 
Letters  to  a  Sister. 


■ 


HA    f^  S^oi.-L    ^(^Sf     '^if 


-West 


•R'Sla 


■■*^^ 


'■% 


■■■;:#'  ■',  - 


"■■*^.-        'j;^' 


*t-rt«".*' 


#•  y^: 


^  .'** 


;# 


iJi»."ii 


'i'^'iS 


"»»*&■;- 


'^ 


'"•I    '^'i' 


'''■«»>»^. 


\ 


